Buttler to 'assess' captaincy future after another ICC tournament failure

Jos Buttler has admitted that he will reflect on his future as England’s white-ball captain following their group-stage exit from the ICC Champions Trophy.

England crashed out of the tournament after an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore on Wednesday, their second consecutive loss. Afghanistan, who had previously shocked England in the 2023 ODI World Cup, delivered another stunning upset.

This marks England’s second first-round exit in the last three ICC tournaments under Buttler’s leadership. Asked whether he would consider stepping down, Buttler responded, "Yes," but said he would not rush into a decision.

"I won’t make an emotional choice right now," he said. "I need time to assess what is best for the team. The management will also have their views."

Since leading England to the T20 World Cup title in 2022, Buttler has struggled to maintain success. England underperformed in the 2023 ODI World Cup, lost in the T20 semi-finals last year, and suffered a 3-0 series defeat in India ahead of this tournament.

Despite these setbacks, Buttler insisted he still enjoys leading the team. "I’ve always seen myself as a leader, even before I was captain. But results have been difficult, and they weigh on you."

England fell short in their run chase against Afghanistan despite a heroic 120 from Joe Root. Dismissed for 317, they were eliminated from semi-final contention.

"A confident team would have finished the job," Buttler admitted. "We need to find a way to get back to our best."

England will face South Africa in their final group match on Saturday.